Introduction

In the vast domain of cybersecurity, Access Control stands out as a pivotal component that delineates who can or cannot access resources in a network. Essentially, it is a process that helps safeguard against unauthorized intrusions, ensuring that only those who should have access can obtain it. Like a meticulous guard checking credentials at the door, effective access control systems are integral in the digital world to ward off cyber threats. However, as with all things, no system is infallible. Experts have raised concerns over broken Access Control systems, hinting at the vulnerabilities they may introduce. This essay delves into the perspectives of Access Control specialists in the IT industry, exploring the current state, potential strategy improvements, and the consensus on whether broken Access Control systems pose a significant threat.

The Importance of Access Control in Cybersecurity

Access Control systems are not new. With the rise of digital databases and online systems, the need to monitor and regulate who has permission to access specific data has become paramount (Tunggal, 2021). A functional Access Control system goes beyond merely safeguarding sensitive information; it ensures business continuity, data integrity, and compliance with legal and regulatory standards.

The Problem of Broken Access Control Systems

In the realm of cybersecurity, the integrity and functionality of Access Control systems stand as paramount determinants of the safety of a network or system. Access Control is relatively straightforward: It dictates who can or cannot interact with specific digital resources. Nevertheless, while the principle is clear-cut, its practical execution must be revised in complexities and vulnerabilities. Drawing an analogy from the physical world, envision a faulty lock on a door. Even if the door is strong and the walls impenetrable, a defective lock compromises the entire security of the house. Such is the case with broken Access Control systems in the cyber world (Saravanan & Bama, 2019). These defective systems, like those faulty locks, render otherwise secure networks vulnerable to breaches, data theft, and unauthorized manipulations.

Several authoritative sources and academic studies have drawn attention to the alarming issues associated with defective Access Control systems. For instance, the much-respected Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP), in its 2021 report, identified “Broken Access Control” among the most prominent web application security risks (OWASP, 2021). This finding was an isolated observation and an echoing sentiment in the cybersecurity community.

Further reinforcing this perspective was a study highlighting the growing challenges in today’s digital sphere, particularly concerning cloud-based environments With an increasing number of businesses and services transitioning to the cloud, the issue of Access Control becomes even more pivotal (Kumar et al., 2018). The research accentuated how broken Access Control mechanisms could inadvertently allow unauthorized access, leading to potential data leakage in these cloud ecosystems. However, cloud environments are only one of the domains facing these challenges. Everyday web applications, integral to our digital routines, share a similar susceptibility (Li, 2020). An insightful exploration into this area revealed vulnerabilities in many web applications we frequently interact with. Central to these security concerns is the theme of compromised Access Control systems (Li, 2020). When these vulnerabilities are leveraged maliciously, they possess the potential to provide attackers with unrestricted access, thereby exposing sensitive information; this underscores the criticality of bolstering security, not just in specialized environments like the cloud but also in the broader web application ecosystem.

The magnitude of the problem is not restricted to merely academic circles or isolated incidents. Reports from industry insiders, such as the Cybersecurity Insiders’ Cloud Security Report of 2020, further intensified the gravity of the situation. The report spotlighted misconfigured Access Control as one of the dominant threats in cloud environments (Cybersecurity Insiders, 2020). Such misconfigurations, often stemming from human error or oversight, pave the way for potential breaches.

A concerning trend was the rise of insider threats (Mazzarolo & Jurcut, 2019). Such threats often originate not from external hackers but from within an organization. In many of these incidents, poorly managed Access Control systems were the culprits (Mazzarolo & Jurcut, 2019). Whether due to inadequate user restrictions, outdated permission settings, or other oversights, defective Access Control can pro